Creating a Business Around 3D-Printed Tabletop Accessories and Game Pieces

🎲 High-quality, customizable tabletop gaming accessories are in high demand—but most players don’t have the tools or expertise to create them.

What if you could fill that gap with a low-maintenance, high-margin business? By leveraging open-source and licensed 3D models, you can quickly build a platform that offers gamers custom miniatures, dice towers, and terrain pieces—produced on demand and tailored to their exact preferences.

In this edition of Easy Startup Ideas, we’ll show you how to launch a 3D printing business that automates production, generates recurring revenue, and scales with minimal effort.

Today’s Idea

Design and 3D-print custom tabletop gaming accessories — including miniatures, dice towers, terrain, and card holders — with a strong focus on personalization and modularity.

The business would offer highly detailed, bespoke products that mass-market accessory makers can’t replicate, giving gamers a unique way to enhance their gaming experience.

Ideal Customer

• Tabletop RPG Players – Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), Pathfinder, and Warhammer players who want custom miniatures and game pieces.

• Tabletop Board Game Enthusiasts – Fans of complex board games (like Gloomhaven or Arkham Horror) who want personalized accessories to elevate their game sessions.

• Game Masters (GMs) – GMs are always looking for unique terrain, props, and miniatures to enhance their campaigns and immerse their players.

• Collectors – Hobbyists who want to display unique, high-quality miniatures and terrain pieces.

• Custom Game Designers – Indie board game designers needing high-quality prototypes or pieces for their games.

Why It Will Succeed

1. Customization Fills a Market Gap – Most miniature and accessory makers are mass-market, offering limited options. Customization and personalization are difficult to replicate at scale, giving you a competitive edge.

2. High Margins and Low Material Costs – 3D printing materials are inexpensive (~$0.05–$0.10 per gram), but customized miniatures and accessories can be sold at a significant markup ($20–$100+).

3. Scalable Production – Once the design files are ready, printing is largely automated. Adding new designs increases sales without increasing production costs.

4. Community Appeal and Word-of-Mouth Marketing – Tabletop gamers are highly engaged communities that share recommendations and love creative accessories.

5. Expanding Market – The global tabletop gaming market is projected to reach $12 billion+ by 2030, with consistent growth driven by streaming, influencer content, and new game releases.

Getting Started and Building an MVP

Tools and Equipment Needed:

• 3D Printers – Start with 2–3 high-resolution resin printers like the Anycubic Photon Mono or Elegoo Saturn. Resin printers offer superior detail, which is essential for miniatures.

• Design Software – Use Blender (free) or ZBrush (paid) for creating detailed miniatures and terrain.

• Slicer Software – Use Chitubox or Lychee Slicer to convert designs into printable files.

• Online Store Platform – Set up a store on Shopify with a product configurator plugin like SC Product Options.

• Filament & Resin – Purchase high-quality resin or PLA filament from suppliers like MatterHackers.

• Curing Station – For resin prints, you’ll need a UV curing station like the Elegoo Mercury Plus.

Accessing Pre-Made and Open Source Models

Instead of designing every piece from scratch, you can leverage a variety of pre-made and commercially available models to build your product catalog quickly:

• Thingiverse – A large repository of open-source 3D models, including terrain and gaming pieces. Many models are free for commercial use with attribution.

• MyMiniFactory – A curated platform with high-quality STL files, many available for commercial resale under licensing agreements.

• CGTrader – A marketplace for purchasing premium STL files for resale. Many models are already pre-supported for 3D printing.

• Cults3D – A large library of both free and paid models. Some files come with resale licensing options.

• Patreon Creators – Many 3D artists on Patreon create exclusive STL files for backers, which often include a commercial-use license. Partnering with artists for exclusive designs can differentiate your brand.

Step-by-Step MVP Process:

1. Source Initial Designs – Start with a mix of open-source models from Thingiverse and paid designs from MyMiniFactory or CGTrader. Modify the designs in Blender or ZBrush to add unique touches or branding elements.

2. Set Up an Online Store – Build a Shopify store and install a product configurator plugin to allow users to customize details (e.g., color, base type, size).

3. Print and Photograph Products – Print several prototypes using resin printers, then photograph them professionally. High-quality product photos are essential for converting sales.

4. Set Up Listings on Etsy and eBay – Etsy is a strong platform for this market, and eBay gives you broader exposure.

5. Test Market with Influencers – Send free samples to small gaming YouTubers and TikTokers to generate buzz and get product reviews.

6. Establish Fulfillment Process – Start with a print-to-order model to avoid overstocking and manage production costs.

Monetization Strategies

• Direct Sales – Sell custom miniatures, dice towers, and terrain via Shopify and Etsy.

• Premium Customization Tiers – Charge extra for added customization options like alternate weapons, color schemes, and custom bases ($5–$20 per upgrade).

• Subscription Box – Offer a monthly "mystery box" of exclusive miniatures and accessories for subscribers ($25–$40/month).

• Affiliate or Partner Commissions – Partner with game designers or Kickstarter projects and take a cut for making exclusive sets.

• Paid STL Files – Sell STL files for people who want to print at home ($5–$15 per file).

• Wholesale to Game Stores – Supply local gaming stores with premium dice towers or miniatures at a bulk discount.

Marketing Strategies

• Target Gaming Communities Directly:

  • Promote on Reddit’s r/DnD, r/Tabletop, and r/Warhammer.

  • Participate in Discord communities focused on RPGs and board games.

• Influencer Outreach:

  • Send free samples to small and mid-tier gaming YouTubers and TikTokers (like Dicebreaker or Geek & Sundry).

  • Offer affiliate partnerships — give creators a discount code to promote your products.

• Social Media Focus:

  • Post time-lapse videos of 3D printing and painting miniatures.

  • Share customer-generated content of completed miniatures in action.

• Kickstarter Campaign:

  • Launch a Kickstarter for an exclusive line of custom accessories or miniatures.

  • Fund stretch goals for limited-edition designs and collector's pieces.

Expanding and Improving

1. Introduce More Customization Options: – Allow users to swap weapons, armor styles, and poses in real time through the configurator.

2. Launch a “Print-at-Home” Tier: – Offer downloadable STL files for people with their own 3D printers.

3. Licensed Content Partnerships: – Approach indie game developers or smaller RPG publishers to create branded miniatures.

4. Glow-in-the-Dark and Metallic Options: – Use different resin types to offer premium finishes.

5. Collaborative Miniature Design Tool: – Allow users to design miniatures together in multiplayer mode (similar to HeroForge).

Brainstormed Business Names

1. Print & Plunder

2. The Dice Forge

3. Epic Minis & Terrain

4. Realm Foundry

5. Forge of Legends

6. Miniverse Forge

7. Dungeon Molds

8. Dragon's Lair Creations

9. Tabletop Titan Prints

10. GameCrafter Studio

Additional Resources

If you’d like a slightly simpler 3D printing experience, you can avoid resin printers entirely and opt for a filament-based printer.

While these are more user friendly and easier for beginners, they don’t offer nearly as much detail and are better suited to producing larger more functional products than intricate game pieces.

This video walks through exactly how to start a 3D printing business. Many of the principles discussed apply to both resin and filament-based printers.

Thanks for checking out another edition of Easy Startup Ideas!

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